Yarn-tension or take-up device, primarily for knitting machines



y 1947. c. H. WAINWRIGHT YARN-TENSION QR TAKE-UP DEVICE, PRIMARILY' FORKNITTING MACHINES Filed April 11, 1946 I I1 uenlor torney Patented July8, 1 947 S PATENT OFFICE YARN-TENSION OR TAKE-UP DEVICE, PRI- MARILY FORKNITTING MACHINES Carlyle Herbert Wainwright, Leicester, England,assignor to The Bentley Engineering Company Limited, Leicester, EnglandApplication April 11, 1946, Serial No. 661,232 In Great Britain May 1,1945 Claims. (Cl. 66-146) This invention concerns a yarn-tension ortake-up device for knitting machines and other textile machines, andprimarily for seamless hose and half hose machines, which device is ofthe type comprising a biassed yarn-engaging arm or dropper which movesunder the action of its bias when the yarn tension decreases to take upslack in the yarn.

According to this invention, a yarn-tension or take-up device of thetype specified has, in combination with the arm or dropper, a trapperfor gripping the yarn on the supply side of said arm which trappercomprises two relatively separable members one of which is arranged tobe engaged and moved by the arm as the latter moves against its bias.Preferably the other trapper member is constituted by a support on whichthe arm is mounted.

The foregoing and other features of the invention set out in theappended claims are incor- Dorated in the construction which will now bedescribed, as an example particularly suitable for a seamless hose orhalf hose knitting machine, with reference to the accompany ng drawingsin which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device;

Figure 2 is a plan thereof;

Figure 3 isa part view looking in the direction of the arrows A, A, inFig. 2;

Figure 4 shows various components of the device.

The device comprises a support column l carrying a platform or bracket 2having an ear 2a to which a spindle 4 is attached, the arm 5 beingpivotally mounted on the spindle for movement between the positionsshown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 1. Beneath the platform 2 thereis a movable trapper member 6 having a ridge 6a which is pressed upagainst the underside of the platform by a spring 1 in a mannerhereinafter described, and the yarn runs through an eye 8 in the member6, between the ridge 6a and the platform 2 to a yarn-guide Ed at thefree end of the arm 5 and thence to the needles. The arm 5 is blessed tothe upper position by a spring 9, and when pulled down by the yarntension, against the action of this spring, it engages a lip 67) of thetrapper member 6 and holds the trapper open so that the yarn may runfreely to the needles under such tension as is applied by the pull ofthe yarn. When the yarn slacks olf, as for example at the commencementof a swing of the knittin machine in knitting a heel or toe, the arm 5rises and'the trapper closes on the yarn to grip it at a locationbetween the yarn supply and the guide 5a so that further upward movementof the arm takes up the slack between the trapper and the needles.

The manner in which the arm 5 and spring 9 are mounted is best disclosedin Fig. 4. The spindle 4 is attached to the ear 2a by a nut Ill whichdraws it up against a distance collar H, and the arm 5 is made of wireand has its end coiled at 512 to form a journal encircling the spindle.The spring 9 'which also encircles the spindle is a rat-trap spring (i.e. a coiled torsion spring) having an end 911 hooking onto the arm 5 toraise it and having its other end 919 anchored. It will be understoodthat by winding-up this spring 9 the bias of the arm 5 may be adjusted,and for this purpose said end 9b is anchored in a knurled thimble l2which is rotationally adjustable on the end 411 of spindle 4 and may beclamped against a shoulder thereon by knurled nut [3.

In order to facilitate threading up, the movable trapper member 6 isdisplaceable laterally to the inoperative position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2, and an adjustment is provided for the grip of the trapper.

The member 6 is freely transfixed by the support column I and at its endremote from the lip 6b it has a spike 60 which engages in a cleft 212 atthe rear end of platform 2 to serve both as a pivot and as a locatingdevice. The spring 1 urges the member 5 upwards about said pivot throughthe medium of a collar M which loosely encircles the column I, and whenit is desired to move said member 6 laterally it is pushed down againstthe action of spring I to separate parts to and 2b. The grip of thetrapper is adjustable by means of an adjuster in the form of a splitsleeve I 5 which grips the column l frictionally and is slidabletherealong to compress or relax spring 1.

We claim:

1. A yarn-tension or take-up device of the type comprising a biassedyarn-engaging arm or dropper movable under the action of its bias, asthe yarn tension decreases, to take up slack in the yarn, having incombination a support column, an arm-mountin platform thereon, a movabletrapper member for co-operating with the platform to grip the yarnbetween them at the supply side of the arm, an adjuster movable alongthe column, a spring interposed between the adjuster and the trappermember for urging the latter against the platform, and means on themovable trapper member for engagement by the arm as the latter movesagainst its bias and for moving said member away from the platform torelease the yarn.

2. A device according to claim 1, having a hole in the movable trappermember through which hole the column extends freely, and releasablyinterengaged parts on the trapper member and platform, which trappermember is movable around the column on disengagement of said parts.

3. In a device according to claim 1, an adjuster constituted by a sliderfrictionally engaging the column.

4. A yarn-tensioned or take-up device, com prising a support, ayarn-engaging dropper thereon movable, under spring bias, to take. upslack in the yarn when yarn tension fall's, a. pivotal mounting for thedropper on the support, a rattrap spring at the mounting for biassingthe 5. A yarn-tension or take-up device of the type comprising a biasedyarn-engagin arm or dropper which moves under the action of its bias,when the yarn tension decreases, to take up slack in the yarn, havin incombination with the arm or dropper, a trapper for gripping the yarn onthe supply side of said arm which trapper comprises tWo relativelyseparable members one of which is arranged to be engaged and moved bythe arm as the latter moves against its bias, and a pivotal mounting forswinging movement of the movable trapper member in a direction laterallyof its movement by the arm.

CARLYLE. HERBERT WAINWRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,424,025 Lawson July 25-, 19222,091,407 Lawson Aug. 31,. 1937 2,193,311 Cloutier Mar, 12, 19402,209,839 Long July 30, 1940 2,270,859 'Abrams Jan, 2'7, 1942

